APRIL 24, 2024:
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley Wednesday (April 24, 2024) announced that 11 state prison inmates have now been indicted on a combined 18 felony charges stemming from the March 27-28 disturbances at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls.
A Minnehaha County grand jury indicted the 11 inmates Tuesday afternoon. A criminal complaint signed by Attorney General Jackley was filed against the defendants earlier in the day.
“The Attorney General’s Office takes this matter seriously with 11 inmates being charged with 18 felonies,” said Attorney General Jackley. “This matter resulted in injuries to two correctional officers and significant damage to prison property.”
Inmates indicted face charges including aggravated assault, simple assault, damage to prison property, and starting fires within the prison.
The 11 inmates and their charges are:
- Joshua David Vortherms, 45, two counts of Aggravated Assault Against a Department of Corrections employee; and two counts of Simple Assault Against a Department of Corrections employee.
- Lee David Bernard, 32, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
- Taylor Dallas Cook, 22, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
- Markos James Fernandez, 19, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
- John Welsey Lovejoy, 25, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
- Connor David Shockey, 20, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
- Michael Chaske White, 50, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
- James Ewing, 41, one count of Reckless Burning, and one count of Burning Within a Structure Where a Person is Lawfully Confined.
- Curtis Carpenter, 39, one count of Reckless Burning, and one count of Burning Within a Structure Where a Person is Lawfully Confined.
- Michael Hewitt, 41, one count of Reckless Burning, and one count of Burning Within a Structure Where a Person is Lawfully Confined.
- Mahlon Kirkie, 35, one count of Reckless Burning, and one count of Burning Within a Structure Where a Person is Lawfully Confined.
All of the inmates will now have initial court appearances. They are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.
APRIL 23, 2024:
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has filed (April 23, 2024) charges against 11 inmates for their actions during a “disturbance” last month (March 27-28, 2024) at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls.
A total of 18 felony charges will be filed ranging from aggravated assault to simple assault to starting fires within the prison.
Jackley says the dangerous actions injured two state correctional officers and caused significant damage to prison property. He says inmates found responsible will be held accountable for their actions.
The 11 inmates and their charges are:
- Joshua David Vortherms, 45, two counts of Aggravated Assault Against a Department of Corrections employee; and two counts of Simple Assault Against a Department of Corrections employee.
- Lee David Bernard, 32, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
- Taylor Dallas Cook, 22, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
- Markos James Fernandez, 19, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
- John Welsey Lovejoy, 25, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
- Connor David Shockey, 20, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
- Michael Chaske White, 50, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
- James Ewing, 41, one count of Reckless Burning, and one count of Burning Within a Structure Where a Person is Lawfully Confined.
- Curtis Carpenter, 39, one count of Reckless Burning, and one count of Burning Within a Structure Where a Person is Lawfully Confined.
- Michael Hewitt, 41, one count of Reckless Burning, and one count of Burning Within a Structure Where a Person is Lawfully Confined.
- Mahlon Kirkie, 35, one count of Reckless Burning, and one count of Burning Within a Structure Where a Person is Lawfully Confined.
An initial court date for those charged has not yet been scheduled. They are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.
MARCH 29, 2024:
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota officials said Thursday (March 28, 2024) they will investigate a “disturbance” at a state prison in Sioux Falls that they say resulted in at least one officer getting assaulted the day before.
“I have directed the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to work with the state Department of Corrections to investigate the disturbance at the State Penitentiary,” South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said in a statement.
Jackley said he intends “to prosecute those responsible for any harm done to correctional officers, other inmates, and state property to the fullest extent of the law.”
South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem said a correctional officer was assaulted Wednesday and taken to a hospital “because of some tablets that were removed from prisoners,” KELO-TV reported.
According to KELO-TV, Noem said she was “extremely proud” of the corrections officers for getting the situation back under control. She added that inmates were us6ing the electronic tablets for “nefarious reasons.”
“They were not being used, in all situations, to just contact home,” Noem said. “They were being used for other purposes that were not good and not legal.”
A memo from March 20 on the Department of Corrections website said tablet communication features — including phone calls, messages and pictures — have been suspended since March 8, 2024, on all department tablets statewide due to an “investigation pending resolution.”
Inmates “still have access to wall phones to contact their attorneys and families,” according to the memo.
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